Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival is the Perfect Hill Country Getaway

by Heidi Gollub on November 5, 2024 in Food+Drink,
Two women in Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival hats
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Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival is a don’t-miss event in the Texas Hill Country. Newly reimagined this year with a candlelit street dinner and yoga wine tasting, it’s the perfect event to close out Texas Wine Month. 

Held the last weekend in October, the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival is a Hill Country event worth booking a mini-vacation around. Plan ahead for 2025 and reserve a room in the centrally located Albert Hotel — slated to open in January — or a vibrant repurposed shipping container at Odonata Escape. 

Explore One of the Country’s Best Wine Regions  

Voted one of the top 10 must-visit domestic wine regions by USA TODAY readers last year, the Texas Hill Country is home to more than 100 wineries and vineyards. 

As a novice wine taster, this fact both fascinated and overwhelmed me. I’ve long wanted to visit some of the many tasting rooms in Fredericksburg but had no idea where to start.  

Enter the reimagined Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival, now hosted by the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce. This annual event brings the wines of the Texas Hill Country to one convenient location, for easy sipping and learning from local winery owners and winemakers.  

“We are excited to highlight the incredible food and wine from our region, fostering prosperity and innovation in the Texas Hill Country,” says Jim Mikula, president of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce.

Pouring red wine in a glass atop a wooden barrel tabletop
The 2024 festival had more than 20 culinary booths and over 30 30+ beer, wine, and spirits tastings. Photo courtesy Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival.

Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival

This year’s festivities kicked off with a Friday night street dinner featuring gourmet cuisine from local chefs and a selection of Texas Hill Country wine. With live music and a cozy ambiance, I dined alongside local business owners as the sun set over Fredericksburg. 

A couple smells their wine while sitting at an outdoor table
The festival opened with food and wine pairings at a community street dinner. Photo courtesy Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival.

I was up early the next morning for Vino Vinyasa in the downtown Marktplatz. As we practiced our Downward Dog, founder Morgan Perry taught us about wine. Following a lovely shavasana under the sky, we were rewarded with tastings of two Heath Sparkling Wines paired with bites from Hye Thai. 

“We’re excited to be a part of this transformed festival, offering a fresh and dynamic way for guests to experience the best of what Fredericksburg has to offer,” says Brian Heath, founder and CEO of Heath Family Brands. 

Four glasses of sparkling wine
Heath Sparkling Wines pair well with early-morning yoga. Photo courtesy Heath Sparkling Wines.

After a mouthwatering brunch at the picturesque Fischer & Wieser Farmstead, complete with brunch cocktails by Dietz Distillery and sweet and savory pastries, I was already full. This was a problem since the festival’s grand tasting event was about to begin downtown, but I soldiered on. 

Wooden walkway to an old fashioned wooden building
Head to Das Peach Haus on the F&W Farmstead for wine tasting by a peach orchard pond. Photo courtesy Fischer & Wieser Farmstead.

VIP access to the festival gets you in an hour early, which was nice for beating the rush to try brisket bites from Eaker Barbeque, empanadas from El Quincho, and Italian ice with a sparkling wine twist from Piccolina. Plus, you get front-of-the-line sips from more than 30 wineries, breweries, and distilleries.

Man sprinkles salt on barbecue meat
Save room for all of the delicious eats at the festival. Photo courtesy Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival.

Where To Eat in Fredericksburg

If all the delectable bites at the festival inspire an eating tour of the town, Fredericksburg has plenty of other venues for you to enjoy good food paired with wine from the Lone Star State. 

These are a few of the restaurants I enjoyed while in Fredericksburg for the festival: 

  • Cabernet Grill. Enjoy elevated Hill Country cuisine and Texas wine in one of USA TODAY’s top 10 American wine restaurants. 
  • Halter Ranch. Try the fish tacos with a glass of organic Texas sparkling wine at this new tasting room. You won’t be disappointed. 
  • Hill & Vine. Skillet cornbread, cinnamon rolls with peaches, and deviled eggs, oh my. Everything here is delicious, and the comfortable quarters are adorned with art by Texas artist Jon Flaming. Arrive early for brunch, as it’s popular, and you can’t make a reservation. 
  • Prometheus Pizza. Rachel and Christopher Stephens recently opened this gourmet pizza shop where you can indulge in pizza pies made using freshly milled Barton Springs Mill flour. They partner with wineries and wine bars to offer a vast selection. 
  • The Standard Public House. A great spot for breakfast, you can munch on fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers, ranchers, and artisans.

Where To Stay in Fredericksburg

In Fredericksburg, you can opt to stay downtown for walkability or further out for tranquility. I stayed at Odonata Escape, a quirky compound of brightly adorned “container homes.” I enjoyed deer in the morning, a campfire in the evening, and having my own tiny home just four miles outside of town. My snuggly unit was artfully decorated with pops of vibrant color, from the kitchenette to the reading nook. 

A bright rectangular room with a king bed and kitchenette
Stay in a cozy container home outside of town. Photo courtesy Odonata Escape.

Plan Your Next Visit

Follow Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival on Facebook to get updates about next year’s event. The Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce has an exciting vision for the 2025 festival which involves extending the festival to include Sunday. 

To plan your next Texas Hill Country getaway, visit the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau online.

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Cover photo courtesy Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival

Heidi Gollub is an editor who lives in Austin, Texas. Every time she drives through the Texas Hill Country, she is surprised by its rugged beauty and wonders why she doesn’t spend more time there.